Monday, 24 June 2013

Goodwood is honouring one of the world’s most versatile and popular sports cars – the Porsche 911 – at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex, 11 – 14 July.

Walter Röhrl, the two-time World Rally Champion

1900 Lohner Porsche Semper Vivus

1973 Porsche 917/30 Spyder

Demonstration runs by historical Porsche road and race cars spanning the seven generations of the 911 will be a highlight of the event. These cars, many of which will instantly evoke fond memories among the thousands of spectators, will be driven by two-time World Rally Champion Walter Röhrl, and two-time winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours and German Touring Car Champion, Hans-Joachim Stuck, amongst other notable star names.

Joining this outstanding selection of 911 icons will also be an incredible line-up of historic Le Mans veterans from the Porsche Museum collection based in Stuttgart. The 911 GT1 '98 and 935/78 ‘Moby Dick’ have been rarely seen in the UK, while the 1987 962 is a frequent visitor to the Earl of March’s West Sussex estate.

1978 Porsche 935/78 ‘Moby Dick’

1977 Porsche 936/77 Spyder Le Mans

Pit stop for Porsche 962 Le Mans 1987

In addition, the former Porsche factory race drivers Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood will once more be reunited behind the wheel of the legendary Porsche 917 KH, with starting number 23, in which they captured the winner’s trophy in the Le Mans 24 Hours for Porsche in 1970; the first of a total of 16 overall victories achieved to date.

The delectable 936 Spyder will also travel to Goodwood; with three victories at Le Mans, it is among the most successful Porsche race cars. The contingent from the Porsche Museum will be completed by a further five star guests. Two examples of the rallying 911; an SC ‘Safari’ and ‘Paris Dakar’ Carrera 4x4; two 911 race cars, a ‘Type 964’ from the Porsche Supercup Championship and ‘Type 996’ 911 GT3 RSR; and the formidable 1,000 hp 917/30 Can-Am car will all be vying for fans’ attention at Goodwood.

Alongside the Lohner-Porsche ‘Semper Vivus’ –the world’s first full hybrid automobile and one of the earliest innovations of company founder, Professor Ferdinand Porsche– the Stuttgart factory will also send a very special, original 911 from 1967 to Goodwood. As part of an innovative ‘Follow the 911’ campaign, this car has been engaged as a rolling ambassador for Porsche at various international events, trade fairs, historic rallies and racing events on five continents since the start of the year.

Further details regarding the involvement of Porsche in the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and more information about the wider event itself, will be confirmed over the coming weeks.

Next month’s Silverstone Classic (26-28 July) will pay special tribute to José Froilan Gonzáles, the legendary Argentine racing driver who passed away last weekend at the age of 90.

Nicknamed ‘the Pampas Bull’ thanks to his burly frame and swashbuckling style, Gonzáles will forever be linked to Silverstone. He not only scored both his two Grand Prix wins (from a total of 26 starts) at the famous Northamptonshire circuit but the first of these in 1951 was also of huge historical significance being Ferrari’s first-ever victory in the FIA Formula One World Championship.

"Everyone was shouting and I was carried to the winner's podium," recalled Gonzáles in his book My Greatest Race. “After a few minutes they led me forward to the Queen of England who congratulated me. I had never experienced anything like this before. When I saw my country’s flag being hoisted, it was just too much for me and I cried. That moment will live with me for ever.”

Honouring that milestone achievement the two races organised by the Historic Grand Prix Cars Association specifically for F1 cars from that era will be named the Froilan Gonzáles Trophy for HGPCA Pre ’61 Grand Prix Cars.

“Gonzáles will always be a giant figure in motor sport history and it’s a huge privilege for us to be honouring him at this year’s Silverstone Classic,” said event director Nick Wigley. “His two Grand Prix victories came at Silverstone and his 1951 win for Ferrari is a watershed moment in the annals of Formula One racing. What’s more he was also a regular visitor to the Silverstone Classic back in the Nineties always happy to be back at the scene of his greatest victory.”

Notably Gonzáles returned in 1997 to take part in a dramatic Ferrari demonstration. Aged 74 he drove a 1952 Ferrari 375 Indianapolis alongside Phil Hill, John Surtees and Jody Scheckter in three of the Scuderia’s more modern F1 machines. Two year’s later he also took part in BRM’s 50th anniversary celebrations at Silverstone.

Like so many of the drivers in his era, Gonzáles also competed in sportscars winning the Le Mans 24 Hours for Ferrari in 1954. Several of the magical machines he raced in the Fifties, and that raced against him, will be among more than 1000 of the finest and most authentic competition cars all recreating history at what’s now firmly established as the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival.

Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Mazda was able to set a new entry in the Guinness Book of World Records during the big MAX-5 2013 event on June 15 in Lelystad, Netherlands. A total of 683 Mazda MX-5s joined the procession on the roads around the RDW Test Centre at Lelystad, forming the longest parade of driving Mazdas ever. 1450 participants contributed to the successful record attempt, shattering the existing record for the “largest parade of Mazda cars” – 459 Mazda MX-5s – set in Essen, Germany in 2010.

The MX-5 parade through the fascinating polder landscape was led by a spectacular version of the MX-5, a third-generation (NC) racing model with the Dutch TV presenter Allard Kalff behind the wheel and President and CEO of Mazda Motor Europe Jeff Guyton beside him. Later on, after the successful record attempt, Guyton also received the official certificate which was presented by Guinness World RecordsTM adjudicator Pravin Patel.

Throughout the MAX-5 2013 event, the RDW Test Centre at Lelystad was completely dedicated to the Japanese brand and the Mazda experience. This included demonstrations by the Ribank Mazda MaX5 Cup racers and the three-rotor-engined Mazda3 20Bowned by Belgian racing family Van Herck. Participants also had the opportunity of extensively testing Mazda's new i-ACTIVSENSE technology on the banked circuit, or entertaining themselves in one of the racing simulators. All the new Mazda SKYACTIV models were on hand for those interested in taking a test drive and visitors also had the opportunity of a free inspection of their own roadsters. During a special display with some of the finest MX-5s on hand, the award for the most beautiful and authentic Mazda MX-5 of the day was handed over to Pieter Staat from Meteren (NL). The second prize went to Maarten Tuiten from Almelo (NL), followed by Ludo Vander Vliet from Duffel (B), winning third place in this competition.

At the end of the day, about 250 cars still present joined to form a large drive-in cinema. Prior to the showing, the viewers were asked to pick from three films and seated at the wheel of their cars, the owners cast their vote by blowing their horn to indicate their preferred film. The loudest ‘vote’ was cast for Arbitrage with Richard Gere in the starring role.

Having this book in your pocket is just like having a marque expert by your side. Benefit from the authors years of real ownership experience, learn how to spot a bad car quickly, and how to assess a promising one like a true professional. Get the right car at the right price!

Thursday, 13 June 2013

Rally legend Tony Mason had a very successful day signing copies of his brand new book Mason's Motoring Mayhem! at the Ford AVO Club National Day at Hatton Country World on Sunday. Tony will be out and about at events throughout the year, watch this space for more updates!

Few people achieve success and notoriety in more than one field, but Tony Mason has managed it! He joined a local car club before he even had a car, eventually climbing to the top with rally wins in his native Lake District, before joining the prestigious Ford works team and co-driving Britain’s biggest rally star, Roger Clark, to win outright the RAC Rally – Britain’s toughest event of its kind. He started a successful car accessory business then ventured onto the stage for a short while, before being signed by the BBC to appear on its popular Top Gear programme, on which he was a main presenter for 15 years. His cheery presence became a popular part of the programme, and he moved from rallying to driving all manner of vehicles, from vintage Rolls-Royces, Reliant Robins, tanks, fire engines and Eddie Stobart trucks. After he was famously bombarded with snowballs during a report on the Monte Carlo Rally, he became even better known, with the famous out-take being shown on programmes around the the world.
Tony Mason’s light-hearted, jovial persona transfers from television to page in this autobiography, taking readers on a trip from his early life in the seaside town of Morecambe through almost 100 countries, with thrills, spills, ups-and-downs all vividly remembered and often shown in photographs.More info.

One man’s real-life experience of motorcycling solo around the globe – no back-up teams, no spare bikes, no film crews – just him and his Yamaha Ténéré XT660, travelling 42,000 miles through 6 continents and 35 countries, seeing amazing things; meeting fascinating people; experiencing different cultures, and coping with extremely challenging conditions.
This book is not only proof that anyone can do it, but also a practical guide to motorcycling round the world: what to do first; what to plan for, and how to cope with the unexpected. Featuring nearly 700 stunning, inspirational images of the places, people and events of our wonderful world (which make you want to experience them for yourself!), the book also contains route maps, points of interest, and practical guidance on freighting a motorcycle.
An eye-opening, absorbing and pragmatic account – described pictorially and by informal, straightforward commentary – of motorcycling around the world. More info.

In case you missed the radio interview with Mike, we got a recording of it!

Source: BBC Radio Oxford.

Available now!The Wheeler Dealer Know How! is written by Mike Brewer, cheeky chappie and TV's best-known car dealing expert. In a career spanning almost 30 years, Mike has seen and done everything when it comes to buying and selling cars, and having established a successful career as a television presenter, is eager to share his knowledge, passion and enthusiasm for cars.
Telling you all you need to know about buying, preparing and selling modern classic cars, this book guides you through the minefield that is the world of car dealing, and helps you avoid the pitfalls that await the unwary. Plus, with stories and anecdotes from Mike’s time in the trade, you'll gain a fascinating insight into the world of wheeler-dealing.
Packed full of information and tips, The Wheeler Dealer Know How will give you the confidence to buy the car of your dreams and avoid ending up with a lemon. You’ll find out how to prepare a car to expert standards – from cleaning, to repairs and improvements – and when the time comes to sell, Mike tells you how to get the best price and avoid being ripped-off.More info.

One man’s real-life experience of motorcycling solo around the globe – no back-up teams, no spare bikes, no film crews – just him and his Yamaha Ténéré XT660, travelling 42,000 miles through 6 continents and 35 countries, seeing amazing things; meeting fascinating people; experiencing different cultures, and coping with extremely challenging conditions.
This book is not only proof that anyone can do it, but also a practical guide to motorcycling round the world: what to do first; what to plan for, and how to cope with the unexpected. Featuring nearly 700 stunning, inspirational images of the places, people and events of our wonderful world (which make you want to experience them for yourself!), the book also contains route maps, points of interest, and practical guidance on freighting a motorcycle.
An eye-opening, absorbing and pragmatic account – described pictorially and by informal, straightforward commentary – of motorcycling around the world. More info.

Wednesday, 5 June 2013

The special anniversary parade to mark 50 years of the Porsche 911 at this summer’s Silverstone Classic (26-28 July) is oversubscribed and thus a complete sell out.

Since being unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1963, the iconic 911 has evolved to become the world’s most successful sportscar with global sales to date totalling more than 820,000.

Now to celebrate its 50th birthday, a massive on-track parade of – appropriately – 911 past and present 911s is being staged as one of the many highlights at the annual Silverstone Classic. Indeed the cavalcade has proved so popular that it has already attracted more than 1000 registrations meaning the organisers now have closed entries.

“Originally we feared achieving 911 Porsche 911s might have been a somewhat over ambitious and idealistic target – but with Porsche Club Great Britain’s invaluable input, we’ve sailed passed that goal with eight weeks to spare,” reported a delighted Nick Wigley, Event Director. “It’s terrific that so many 911 enthusiasts and Porsche Club Members will be able to join us for what’s going to be a fantastic birthday party; to be marking such an important automotive milestone in such record breaking style is what we always set out to accomplish. It’s going to be a mind-boggling experience no Porsche fan will want to miss.”

While over the ages there have been no fewer than seven different generations, the distinctive 911 with its classic yet unique lines has always remained loyal to its original sporty – yet practical – design ethos. It was described by its instigator Ferry Porsche as ‘the only car you could drive on an African safari or at Le Mans, to the theatre or through New York City traffic’ and it’s that combination of high performance and everyday versatility that has won so many admirers over the past 50 years.

As well as raising much needed funds for the Hope for Tomorrow cancer charity, the spectacular Silverstone Classic parade – taking place at lunchtime on Sunday 28 July – will feature many of the most famous competition and showroom models from past and present eras including legendary Carrera, RS, RSR, GT, Speedster, Targa and Turbo variants… plus some famous faces, too.

“There are a number of very special 911s and Porsche personalities appearing,” confirmed Nick Hine, Chairman of Porsche Club GB. “We will be making further announcements in the coming weeks but are delighted to reveal that two Porsche racing legends – Derek Bell MBE and David Piper – will be among those helping us to celebrate this important occasion on the full Grand Prix track at Silverstone. Having two celebrated drivers from Porsche’s illustrious racing history, taking part in the 911 x 911 world record attempt, is a fitting tribute to mark Porsche Club Great Britain’s celebration of the 911’s 50th birthday.”

Adding to the special golden anniversary celebrations, Porsche Cars GB has prepared its own historic 911 race car to compete at the Classic. The 1965 ‘short-wheelbase’ is entered under the evocative ‘Project 50’ team banner and will raced by Richard Attwood and Gordon Robertson in Saturday evening’s blue riband Piper Heidsieck International Trophy Race for Pre-1966 GT Cars, in association with Chopard. Attwood was Porsche’s first winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours back in 1970 while Robertson is Chief Driving Consultant at the Porsche Experience Centre, Silverstone.

While 911 owners and fans can no longer register for the amazing 911 x 911 parade, they can still join the massive birthday party – but they must buy tickets in advance. In keeping with the popular event’s widely acclaimed ‘access all areas’ policy, all tickets include free entrance to both racing paddocks and pit complexes, trackside grandstands, live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings plus the dedicated Porsche 911 and classic car club display areas. Adult admittance is from just £35 (plus fees) and considerable savings are on offer for those festival goers spending the full weekend at Silverstone and special packages for car clubs and their members are also available. Full details can be found on the official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.

Follows Porsche's year-by-year progress in top flight racing, and looks in detail at the pure competition cars which brought the German marque such immense success and worldwide acclaim on the tracks. This particular volume starts with the story of the giant-killing 550 Spyders of 1953 vintage, and takes the reader, car-by-car, through all of the subsequent racing models. More info.

This book charts the progress of what became classic events, the Silverstone 6-hour and 1000km races, year-by-year from 1976, through the era of the Group C cars, up to the end of the eighties, with previously unpublished accounts and photographs of each event. More info.

Monday, 3 June 2013

Susy Franco, stepdaughter of the author Roy Smith, presents to the great José Froilán González his own personal copy of Amedee Gordini - a true racing legend.

Although more famous for his drives in a Ferrari, José Froilán González - now in his 91st year - drove for Amedee Gordini in 1950, along with Juan Manuel Fangio. The pairing came to Europe following Fangio's showing in the Gordinis in 1949.

González, one of the greatest drivers of the era, kindly wrote a foreword for the book as did his old friend Sir Stirling Moss who, although he did not drive for Gordini, raced wheel-to-wheel with the little blue cars and remembers, as does Froilán González, the tenacity of the Gordini team and the man.

The presentation to Mr González was made in Buenos Aires on behalf of the author on May the 31st 2013.

This is the story of a man, a team, and their life and times, as well as a complete record of all their achievements and failures. It logs the financial and personal cost of racing in the prewar and postwar periods. It tells of how the mighty car company Renault became involved with them in the late 1950s, and how Amedee Gordini became known throughout the world as one of the greatest engine tuners of his time. More info.

A few years ago I was fortunate enough to have a sabbatical approved at work, and decided that I would ride around the world: yep; just like that!

My relationship with the Yamaha Ténéré began in 2008 when we met in a Yamaha showroom in Sheffield. My existing bike – an almost-new Yamaha Fazer – waited nervously in the carpark as I went inside. If I was really going to head off around the world I needed more of a utility vehicle. Transportation sorted, I left Preston, Lancashire and headed for the EuroTunnel.

The two bikes are completely different to ride, as those who ride will know, but a pleasant surprise was the Ténéré’s height. Fully loaded, a little altitude is lost (couple of centimetres, maybe) but when riding in Indonesian cities, for example, I found that the bike’s height gave essential additional visibility, enabling me to see above and beyond the heavy traffic and dense packs of scooter riders which clogged the roads.

And there’s one in every city: a Yamaha dealer, that is. Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but when I did experience any issues with the bike, or needed scheduled maintenance, it’s fair to say that a Yamaha dealer was never far away. I left the UK with a parts list detailing order codes, and was pretty confident that I could get what I needed along the way. I visited official Yamaha dealers in Italy, Russia, Australia, Argentina, Mexico and the USA: some for a standard service; others for general wear and tear as a result of the journey. This may give the impression that I had problems with the bike, but the truth is that the Ténéré made the world ride seem easy, and more often than not out-performed its rider, getting me out of trouble on more than one occasion.

Our round-the-world adventure lasted for a year, and we covered 42,000 miles; crossed 6 continents; visited 35 countries; did 9 oil changes and got through 3 sets of tyres (one set of tyres got us from the UK to Darwin, Australia!). The bike was ridden daily and seemed to improve as it ate up the miles: this is some machine, I can tell you, which really will get you anywhere you want.

Precisely fifty-two weeks after we started out in August 2009, I was bumbling back up the M1 after completing a 42,000-mile lap of the globe. Over a few cups of tea with friends, we flicked through the photos, notes and videos, and the content of a book came together.

The Real Way Round is my personal pictorial diary of a once-in-a-lifetime motorcycle trip across 35 countries on a Yamaha Ténéré XT660, and a practical guide to motorcycling round the world: what to do first. what to plan for, and how to cope with the unexpected. It also includes details of bike modifications, route maps, points of interest, and practical guidance on freighting your bike. The scenery and experiences along the way ranged from fantastic to frightening, and I wouldn’t have missed a moment of any of it. Nearly 700 stunning, inspirational photos of the places, people and events of our wonderful world will make you want to get out there and experience them for yourself.

My best tip for a trip like this? Get off the bike and meet the locals; this is the true secret to making a journey like this a success. Solo riders (and even couples) are generally warmly welcomed: enjoy the ride, the people and the places of the world. So, what are you waiting for ...?Jonathan Yates

PS A true Trojan, the Ténéré is still going strong after clocking up 56,000 miles. In April 2013 I did a tour to Morocco, three years after returning from the global trip, and the bike was still as punchy as ever. What a star!

This book captures one man’s real experience motorcycling around the globe – no back up teams, no spare bikes, no film crews. 42,000 miles through 35 countries, seeing amazing things, meeting fascinating people, experiencing different cultures and coping with extremely challenging conditions.
This book is not only proof anyone can do it, but also a guide as to how to do it. It is not a technical guide, but rather a broad-brush approach covering some of the key tasks needed to plan and complete a similar trip yourself. With dozens of inspirational photos of stunning scenery and intense experiences, plus an informal, straightforward commentary, this is an eye-opening and practical account of biking around the world. More info.

Ian Falloon has authored nine books for Veloce, with four more in the pipeline. Eight of these titles cover Ducati, with the rest focusing mostly on Italian motorcycles, but he has an interest in all makes.

1976: A Honda 400 Four and Norton Commando 750 Combat to go with the flares and long hair.

“My first motorcycle was a 1973 Ducati 750 GT. Back in those days in New Zealand, there were no restrictions on the type of motorcycle a learner could ride. It was like a baptism of fire – I crashed it more times than I can remember, but fortunately I survived.”

Although I loved the 750 GT, all my friends had British bikes and I always yearned for a Norton Commando. So I bought a 750 Combat in 1974, but had a real love/hate relationship with this bike. Commandos are great when running nicely, but don’t really suit inexperienced mechanics with dubious skills. One 800-mile ride took me 14 hours after persistently tightening loose exhaust header pipes and replacing carburettor float bowl screws. However, the bike handled wonderfully and was great fun. And such was the fondness of my memories of this Commando that last year I bought another – this time an electric start Mark III.

On a trip to Britain in 1975 I test rode a Honda CB400F, and a year later entered the world of Japanese reliability. But although this little Honda was beautifully built and finished, it lacked soul, and ultimately led me back to Italian bikes. I’d always had Ducati 750s, with a Sport replacing the GT in 1974, and a 750 SS replacing that in 1976. No-one wanted the round-case 750 SS in 1976 – they all lusted after the new 900. I couldn’t afford a 900 though, so through a friend I found a genuine 5000 mile one-owner 750 SS, still with the original tyres and the factory race kit. Thus began a relationship with the 750 SS that continues to this day.

A ride on the 750 SS alongside a Benelli Tornado, in 1978.

I was fortunate to enjoy the 750 SS when it was not considered a commodity, but instead was simply regarded as an old motorcycle. So I rode it regularly as a sporting machine for many years, appreciating its smoothness, handling and refinement. It has never given me any trouble, and the motor is still as it was when it left the factory.

While the 750 SS has been a consistency in my collection, every year saw the buying and selling of other bikes. In 1979 I managed to save enough for a 900 Darmah, followed a few years later by a series of 500 Pantahs, 900 MHRs, and 750 F1s. Throughout the 1980s a series of Japanese bikes came and went: a Suzuki GS400 for everyday duties, a GS850G, Honda VFR750, and a Kawasaki GpZ 900R. But the finest and most underrated bike was the BMW K100RS. The K bike may lack character, but it does everything asked of it, and with aplomb. The K100RS did 75,000km of touring, mostly two-up, pushed hard over mountain passes in New Zealand and Australia, without missing a beat. A fantastic bike, and a bargain in the used bike world.

I finally managed to afford a Darmah in 1979.

In 1987 I had a serious accident on a 450 Desmo Ducati, and this effectively ended fast road riding. I could no longer shift on the right or kickstart a motorcycle. So my trusty 750 SS has since become a museum piece, but I continued to ride. It was initially Ducatis – an 851 SP3 and 900 Supersport – but later the nostalgia bug bit and I went on to buy a Moto Guzzi V7 Sport, a Laverda 750 SFC, and an MV Agusta 750 S. As I could no longer ride long distances I began restoring Ducatis, and over the next few years restored a number of 750 GTs and Sports and a 750 and 900 SS.

In the early 1990s, with my riding career curtailed, I began writing articles for motorcycle magazines. A number of these were historical features on Ducatis, and a friend suggested I put them together and send them to several publishers as a book proposal. Haynes liked the idea, and in 1996 it published The Ducati Story. This subsequently went into three reprints and five editions, and has been published in three languages. Some of my books are very specialised, and I was particularly fortunate that Veloce was prepared to publish comprehensive books covering the 1974 Ducati 750 Super Sport (only 401 bikes built) and MV Agusta Fours (around 1200 built). Now I continue to write books for Veloce, but the wheel has turned full circle and all future planned titles cover Ducatis.”